" Bobby asked, with the air of one
continuing an interrupted conversation.
continuing an interrupted conversation.
Kipling - Poems
He mopes like a sick owl.
"
"That's where you make your mistake, my son. Dormer isn't a fool yet,
but he's a dashed dirty soldier, and his room corporal makes fun of his
socks before kit-inspection. Dormer, being two-thirds pure brute, goes
into a corner and growls. "
"How do you know? " said Bobby, admiringly.
"Because a Company commander has to know these things--because, if he
does not know, he may have crime--ay, murder--brewing under his very
nose and yet not see that it's there. Dormer is being badgered out of
his mind--big as he is--and he hasn't intellect enough to resent it.
He's taken to quiet boozing and, Bobby, when the butt of a room goes on
the drink, or takes to moping by himself, measures are necessary to pull
him out of himself. "
"What measures? 'Man can't run round coddling his men forever. "
"No. The men would precious soon show him that he was not wanted.
You've got to"--Here the Color-sergeant entered with some papers; Bobby
reflected for a while as Revere looked through the Company forms.
"Does Dormer do anything, Sergeant?
" Bobby asked, with the air of one
continuing an interrupted conversation.
"No, sir. Does 'is dooty like a hortomato," said the Sergeant, who
delighted in long words. "A dirty soldier, and 'e's under full stoppages
for new kit. It's covered with scales, sir. "
"Scales? What scales? "
"Fish-scales, sir. 'E's always pokin' in the mud by the river an'
a-cleanin' them muchly-fish with 'is thumbs. " Revere was still absorbed
in the Company papers, and the Sergeant, who was sternly fond of Bobby,
continued,--"'E generally goes down there when 'e's got 'is skinful,
beggin' your pardon, sir, an' they do say that the more lush
in-he-briated 'e is, the more fish 'e catches. They call 'im the Looney
Fish-monger in the Comp'ny, sir. "
Revere signed the last paper and the Sergeant retreated.
"It's a filthy amusement," sighed Bobby to himself. Then aloud to
Revere: "Are you really worried about Dormer? "
"A little. You see he's never mad enough to send to a hospital, or
drunk enough to run in, but at any minute he may flare up, brooding and
sulking as he does.
"That's where you make your mistake, my son. Dormer isn't a fool yet,
but he's a dashed dirty soldier, and his room corporal makes fun of his
socks before kit-inspection. Dormer, being two-thirds pure brute, goes
into a corner and growls. "
"How do you know? " said Bobby, admiringly.
"Because a Company commander has to know these things--because, if he
does not know, he may have crime--ay, murder--brewing under his very
nose and yet not see that it's there. Dormer is being badgered out of
his mind--big as he is--and he hasn't intellect enough to resent it.
He's taken to quiet boozing and, Bobby, when the butt of a room goes on
the drink, or takes to moping by himself, measures are necessary to pull
him out of himself. "
"What measures? 'Man can't run round coddling his men forever. "
"No. The men would precious soon show him that he was not wanted.
You've got to"--Here the Color-sergeant entered with some papers; Bobby
reflected for a while as Revere looked through the Company forms.
"Does Dormer do anything, Sergeant?
" Bobby asked, with the air of one
continuing an interrupted conversation.
"No, sir. Does 'is dooty like a hortomato," said the Sergeant, who
delighted in long words. "A dirty soldier, and 'e's under full stoppages
for new kit. It's covered with scales, sir. "
"Scales? What scales? "
"Fish-scales, sir. 'E's always pokin' in the mud by the river an'
a-cleanin' them muchly-fish with 'is thumbs. " Revere was still absorbed
in the Company papers, and the Sergeant, who was sternly fond of Bobby,
continued,--"'E generally goes down there when 'e's got 'is skinful,
beggin' your pardon, sir, an' they do say that the more lush
in-he-briated 'e is, the more fish 'e catches. They call 'im the Looney
Fish-monger in the Comp'ny, sir. "
Revere signed the last paper and the Sergeant retreated.
"It's a filthy amusement," sighed Bobby to himself. Then aloud to
Revere: "Are you really worried about Dormer? "
"A little. You see he's never mad enough to send to a hospital, or
drunk enough to run in, but at any minute he may flare up, brooding and
sulking as he does.
